SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AND MANAGING HIGH-AVAILABILITY POWER INFRASTRUCTURES WITH FLEXIBLE LOAD PRIORITIZATION

• US 20070183444A1
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optimal Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optimal Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Schoettle, Roland
• Application Number:
  US11/671,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/449
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing and managing high-availability power infrastructures with flexible load prioritization are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises a switch control and monitoring center that monitors and controls a distributed array of remotely controllable switches to optimize power distribution in a high-availability infrastructure according to priority levels. The high-availability comprises an electric battery storage and/or auxiliary generation equipment. In another embodiment a software package performs power quality analysis, ranking, and optimization, thus enabling the assessment of overall local and grid power demand trends. Load priority adjustments may be made in real-time.

Claims

1. A system for managing a high-availability electrical power infrastructure, said system comprising:

at least one high-availability backbone power line for supplying power to a plurality of sub power lines; and

a switch associated with each said sub power line, each said switch operable to selectively remove said associated sub power line from said high-availability backbone power line as a function of a priority assigned to each said associated sub power line.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a monitoring center operable to communicate with each said switch to manage the provisioning of power from said high-availability backbone power line to each said sub power lines.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

at least one power supply connected to a utility power line for creating said high-availability backbone power line.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

a distributed generation unit and a power supply unit.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said monitoring center orders said switch to decouple said associated sub power line from said high-availability backbone power line by issuing a command comprising a priority level.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each said switch monitors loads connected to said associated sub power lines.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein each said switch transmits monitored data to said monitoring center.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said monitoring center orders said switch to perform an in-service test.

9. A switch for use in a high-availability power system, said switch comprising:

a priority profile associated therewith, said switch operable to decouple a load from a backbone power line upon receipt of a priority command based upon the level of said switch priority profile.

10. The switch of claim 9 further comprising:

a load monitoring device for determining power consumption.

11. The switch of claim 10 further comprising:

a testing device for testing the operation of said switch.

12. The switch of claim 11 further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting monitored data to a monitoring center.

13. The switch of claim 12 wherein said switch decouples said load from a high-availability backbone power line when said priority command contains a priority level having a value higher than said switch priority profile.

14. A computer for monitoring a high-availability premises power grid, said computer comprising:

inputs for receiving parameter data from a plurality of sources;

some of said sources being switches interposed on sub power lines connected to a backbone power line;

each of said switches having a priority level for activation; and

a first set of routines, including computer executable instructions, for sending communications to said switches concerning priority levels.

15. The computer of claim 14 further comprising:

a second set of routines, including computer executable instructions, for optimizing power distribution in said power grid by controlling the operation of said switches.

16. A method for controlling the distribution of power among a plurality of devices connected to a power grid, said method comprising:

associating each of said plurality of devices with a priority profile; and

providing power to at least one of said devices as a function of said priority profile.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

detecting a change in the availability of power in said power grid.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

controlling the distribution of power to at least one of said plurality of devices as a function of said detected change in availability of power and said priority profiles.

19. A system for controlling the power consumption of devices connected to a plurality of sub power lines, each said sub power line receiving power from a high availability backbone, said system comprising:

means for controlling the availability of power to each said sub power line based at least in part upon a priority profile associated with each said sub power line.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for detecting a change in the availability of power in said high-availability backbone; and

means for adjusting the availability of power in each said sub power line based at least in part upon said detected change.